grief-stricken

American  

[greef-strik-uhn] / ˈgrifˌstrɪk ən /

adjective

1. overwhelmed by grief; deeply afflicted or sorrowful.

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grief-stricken British  

adjective

1. deeply affected by sorrow or distress

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Usage

What does grief-stricken mean? Grief-stricken means overwhelmed or strongly affected by grief—mental or emotional suffering or distress caused by loss or regret. It’s especially used to describe a person who is feeling intense sorrow and loss from the death of a loved one. The word stricken is the past participle of the verb strike, but it can also be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as afflicted. The word grief can also be used in the context of other situations involving loss, such as a divorce or the loss of a job, but grief-stricken is usually only used to describe those who are feeling grief due to a death. In other words, those who are grief-stricken are usually those who are grieving or mourning. Example: She was absolutely grief-stricken after the loss of her mother.

Etymology

Origin of grief-stricken

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Tyndale introduced the English people to a God who eats with sinners, heals the sick and comforts the grief-stricken: a loving God on a mission to rescue mankind.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

As the sun set in the grief-stricken Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge on Wednesday, hundreds gathered in a main square, lighting candles for victims of one of the country's worst-ever mass shootings.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

After leaving his newborn daughter in the care of his sister Bamie, a grief-stricken Roosevelt fled to his cattle ranch in the Dakota Territory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

She also stars as the grief-stricken woman at its heart.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

"Your own sweet sister," Varys said, so grief-stricken he looked close to tears.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• anguished
• distressed
• heartbroken